Country stars, celebrities kick off CMA Fest week with raucous baseball game for charity

Country music stars, comedians, pro athletes and internet celebrities combined forces with servicemen and women to play ball, raising more than two-thirds of a million dollars for Folds of Honor Tennessee.

” It’s been so awesome to watch this thing grow,” Riley Green said before the game. The country music star was the captain of the Military team. “I did it five years ago. It was the first year they had it, and it was about a half-full stadium. This year, every seat sold.”

The Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball Game at First Horizon Park brought out some heavy hitters to raise scholarship money for the families of America’s fallen and disabled military service members and first responders.

“Win or lose, we’re here for a great cause,” said Green, who donated $75,000 to the pot.

The 6’4″ singer’s roster included singers Ashley Cooke, Adam Doleac, Charles Esten, Tyler Hubbard and Zach Top along with comedian John Crist, internet personalities Mat Best and Riley Gaines, professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, and Morgan Huelsman and Lunchbox from The Bobby Bones Show. Military representatives included Master Sgt. Kristin L. Day and Dean Goble of the special forces.

The only thing on comedian Danae Hays’ mind was, “Winning. Winning. Winning.”

The former Crimson Tide shortstop was ready to show off her collegiate skills but admitted playing with a bunch of country stars was more nerve-wracking than going with Alabama to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.

Danae Hays is seen on the field during the Folds of Honor Tennessee Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball Game at First Horizon Park on June 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I got more nervous playing in this game ’cause they think I’m the best,” Hays said. “And I’m like, y’all, it’s been over a decade, but the World Series is pretty tough.”

Her First Responder team captained by mixed martial artist Michael Chandler included singers Gavin Adcock, Priscilla Block, Jordan Davis, Justin Moore, Raelynn, Chase Rice, Conner Smith and Warren Zeiders along with comedian Jeff Dye and former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler. Lt. Daniel Ray and Deputy Shelby Eggers-Cable played on the team, as well.

Game highlights

The friendly competition quickly turned into a blowout.

Near the top of the first inning, Dye walked up to home plate with a stogie hanging from his lips. Smoke billowed as he readied his bat. A lob from Green led to a base hit. Dye, Hays, Davis and Chandler scored for an impressive first inning.

Comedian Jeff Dye smokes a cigar at the Folds of Honor Tennessee Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball Game at First Horizon Park on June 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Gavin Adcock nabbed the first home run of the game in the second inning. His legs circled the bases as the ball dropped in center field and wasn’t returned fast enough.

“I really don’t know much about baseball or softball, but I am here for the vibes,” Priscilla Block said, which may have showed when she tipped the ball, didn’t realize it was infield and hit Tyler Hubbard with her bat as she took off for first base. Hubbard tagged her and shook it off.

The play of the night easily went to Michael Chandler in the sixth inning when he smacked the ball — not quite out of the park, but far enough to bring Conner Smith, Jeff Dye (still with cigar in mouth), Jordan Davis and himself home. His First Responders launched from the dugout to celebrate, squeezing their water bottles and spraying water into the air.

For the seventh inning stretch, President Donald Trump had taped a message warmly received by the crowd. He introduced singer Lee Greenwood, whom he appointed to the Kennedy Center board in February. Greenwood sang his patriotic hit “God Bless the U.S.A.” The crowd punched fists into the air during the line “and I’d gladly stand up next to you.”

Kim Greenwood (4L) and Lee Greenwood (5L) pose with members of the United States Marine Corps at the Folds of Honor Tennessee Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball Game at First Horizon Park on June 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.

“If that [performance] doesn’t get you fired up, you might as well move back to Russia,” Dye said over the stadium microphone before the ninth inning.

Going into the bottom half of the ninth, the Military team had a steep hill of 18-9 to climb, which almost looked possible when Zach Top slid into home sending dust flying into the air. Unfortunately, his team couldn’t rally and the final score was 18-10.

But the real champion was the Folds of Honor Tennessee organization walking home with a check for $670,079.58.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Country stars, celebs kick off CMA Fest week with raucous ball game

‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’

‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sports.yahoo.com ’